Electroplating apparatus



July 7, 1925.

I c'gg. MILLER; ELECTRbPLATING APPARATUS Filed March 28,1924

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 7, 1925. 1,545,268

" C. G. MILLER ELQ TRQPLATING AIQPARATUS Filed marcn'zg, 1924 4 sheets-sheet 2 July 7, 1925.

. C. G. MILLER ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hil 25 7 1 (022524 2252226611 Z'ZZZ" C. G. MILLER ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1924 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 7, 1925. 1,545,268

i 4 2/1 50%; I 5, m

, "E" 55 ull-elm 1% 3 llll lllli-T 5 I 38 llllllll:h 37 2 53 Patented July 7, 1925.

PATENTHQFFICEI coNs'rAN'rINE G. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORjTIEd THE MEAKER GAL- vANIz NG 00., or cmcaeo, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

ELECTROPLA'IIN G APPARATUS.

. Applicationfiled March as, 1924. Serial No. 702,512.

To all whom itmay concern."

I hereby declare that the following is a. full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this Figure 1.

specification.

This invention relates to electroplating apparatus and although not restricted to such use is particularly adapted for electrogalvanizing, ing articles of iron and steel.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for electroplating an' endless series of articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple means for varying th time .of treatment.

Other and further important objects of 'this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawings.

The invention (in. a preferred form) is shown on the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a. side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a. plan view on an enlarged scale of one end of the machine.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sect-ion on the line66 of Figure .1.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8' of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a vertical section through a portion of the chain and its supporting busbar.

As shown on the drawings:

The apparatus comprises an electrolysing tank 10 conveniently made of wood bolted nickel plating or copper platthe electrolysing tank.

together or constructed of steel if, so desired. I

Across one end of the tank is .a beam 11 upon which is mounted an electric motor 12 which operates the'apparatus. Connected to the shaft 13 of the motor by va coupling 14 is a shaft 15 upon which is mounted a friction wheel 16 which engages the face of a friction disc 17. The wheel 16 is slidably ,mounted on the shaft 15 so that its line of contact with the disc 17may life varied to change the speed at which the discis driven.

For changing the position of the wheel 16 a block 18 is provided revoluble and slidable upon the shaft 15 and rotatablf'connected with the wheel 16. A hand wheel 19 is provided on ascrew 20 for moving this block. In order to prevent the block 1 8 rotating with the shaft 15 the screw 20 isprovided having a threaded engagement ,with the bearing block 21. I;

The shaft 15 is carried by twcibearing blocks 21 and 22, each mounted for transverse horizontal movement in a frame 23 on a pedestal 24. By means of screws 25 the position of the bearing blocksmay be adjusted as desired The positioniof the motor may be simultaneously adjusted by means not shown. i y

The friction disc 17 is mounted on a shaft- 26 supported by a bearing 27. This shaft 26 drives through a coupling 26 and oper l ates a shaft. 28 by means of a worm and worm wheel arranged within the casing 29. On the shaft 28 is another worm 30 driving a worm wheel 31 on a vertical shaft 32. The shaft 32 is journalled in a bearing 33 slidable lengthwise of the apparatus in a frame 34. The position of the bearing is adjustable by means of screws Below the bearing is arranged a sprocket wheel 36 which drives the conveyor chain 37 (Fig ure 8) by means of which the articles to be plated are moved through the tank. By reference to Figure 5 it will be-observed that the screws are staggered to aid in taking up the side pull produced by the conveyor chain upon the shaft 32. The conveyor chain consists ofa series of links to which at suitable intervals are bolted or riveted hooks 38 which support the hooks or racks 39 by means of which the articles to be plated are supported within The hooks 38 ride upon rails or bus bars 40 along the straight portions of their path and upon theperiphcry of circular suppo'rts41 and 42 at the ends '01 their path; The conveyor chain is guided by angle bars which engage the upper edge of the links of the conveyor.'

When no articles or only light-objects are hung on the hooks 38 the weight otthe conveyor throwsthe hooks intothe position shown in Figure 9. In this position there is knifeedge contact between thc bus-bars 40' and the hooks 38. Knife-edge contact is advantageous as it ensures cutting through any grease, oxide or the like upon either of the contacting parts. When heavy articles are suspended from the hooks the weight of the conveyor is overcome and the hooks change their position with respect to the bus-bars 40.,

The circular support 41 is mounted on the shaft 32 so that the-latter may rotate freely therein. Similarly the support 41 is mounted on a shaft 43 which carries a sprocket wheel 44' for the opposite end of the conveyor'chain. The position of the shaft 43 and sprocket wheel 44 may be adjusted in exactly similar manner to that of shaft 32 and sprocket 36.

The circular supports 41 and 42 are nonrevolubly connected by the rails 40 having sliding engagement with each support to allow for adjustment in the position of these supports.

Across the tank are arranged two busbars 46 and 47. The first of these is connected by brackets 48 with the rails 40. The second is connected by a bar 49 and clamp 50 with the rod 45 and also carries by means of bars. 51 and clamps 52 two other bars 53. From these three bars 45, 5-3 and 53 are suspended the anodes.

Inoperation the articles are lifted off the hooks and replaced by others. i The speed of operation of the chain is adjusted so that the requisite deposit is formed on the article during the time said article travels in the tank.

1am aware that many changes may be ing an electroplating bath, an endless c0nveyortliereabove, hooks on said conveyor for supporting articles within said bath, anodes arranged in' said bath, a guide for the upper portion of the conveyor, and a bus bar on which said hooks rest adapted to make knife-edge contact with said hooks when the load on the latter is below a predetermined amount.

3. An electroplating apparatus comprising an electroplating bath, an endless conveyor thereabove, hooks on said conveyor for supporting articles within said bath, anodes arranged in said bath, a guide for the upper portion of the conveyor, and a bus bar on which said hooks rest, the position of the hooks relatively'to'the busbar thereon varying with the load on the hooks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribedmy name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GONSTANTINE G. MILLER.

Witnesses:

vFlinn E. 'PAEsLER, GGA HARTMANN.

made,and'nuinerous details of construction 

